It did not go perfectly according to the plan, but Tottenham Hotspur will take an advantage of two goals in Norway next week for a chance during a grand final of the European Cup. Tottenham obtained goals from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison to accompany a second half penalty from Dominic Solanke to take a 3-0 advance on Bodø / Glimt visitors during the first leg of the Europa League semi-final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs also looked good for their advance, but died at the end of the second half, allowing Ulrik Salnes to get one back for visitors.
The late goal of Bodø / Glimt took a bit of the brilliance of what was otherwise a solid victory. Tottenham may have taken a practically unassailable advance in the next week’s return match in Norway, but rather settled for an advantage of two goals. The final score was 3-1.
Here are my quick -take away the match.
Match the reactions
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Tottenham’s probable strategy was to widen the ball and pump crosses all day, and it seemed to be an excellent strategy! Richarlison had a beautiful cross at the rear post, then directed another ball through the box to an open Johnson to put the Spurs forward.
- Curious to know why the Spurs did not support Bodø / Glimt at the start of the match. Seemed happy to let them have the ball, although they did not do much.
- Dom Solanke had frustrating moments in this match, but he really used his strength to raise defenders B / G. He maintained a number of movements which, otherwise, were likely to be cut.
- Pedro Porro did almost nothing in the first half hour of this match, then put a ball on a set to install James Maddison for the second Spurs. What a time.
- Remember last year when we continued to say how much Richarlison was an ideal angel-ball player? Well, we don’t really play Ange-Ball and we haven’t seen a lot of Richy due to injuries, but Pombo worked. Really impressive performance in the first half. Suppose that the substitution of half-time for Mathys Tel was for reasons of minutes management and fitness.
- On the penalty – I have the impression that it should not be a penalty in this circumstance, but by rule, it is a penalty and once he went to Var, then the instructor, you knew that it was going to be given. I am not a fan of the penalty of stammered delay, but the credit to Dom – he took it well.
- NGL FAM, I’m worried about James Maddison. He seemed to work well, no soft, when he left the field but went down directly into the tunnel. I hope it is a minor pinch or a blow and nothing serious. And we need his creativity.
- At the top of 3-0 in the second half, there is not much to do but to keep it well tidy, to try to do nothing stupid, and for the love of God, do not conceive. Welp. A lucky objective – Saltnes’ shot has deviated from Rodrigo Bentancur and in – but the Spurs also turned defensively to allow this shot, the first on the target of Bodø / Glimt.
- The main difference between the two parties in it was that the Spurs had just many more athletes and surpassed them in possession. Help they miss five players, including Patrick Berg – I am ready to guess that the match at Bodø will be significantly different next week and its B / G goal is suddenly much more frightening than it was, especially on their strange Arctic plastic field.
- In the other semi-final, Manchester United put three bilbao-men’s pass in San Mamés, and things are accompanied by Tottenham to play a great final of the European Cup against another team from the Premier League. What could go wrong?
- That said – it was a good victory! We should celebrate when Tottenham Hotspur has organized good performances and winning football matches, especially this season. The tie at home and at home still belongs to him.
